2. Secret Invasion - I didn't think this was as bad as reviews claimed while watching it. I found it perfectly entertaining and certainly not among Marvel's worst shows (that's probably Ms. Marvel and Falcon and the Winter Soldier). And I'm not even the biggest fan of Captain Marvel (I actually really didn't like it at all). It has a very clear, direct story, which I think is rare for Marvel stuff nowadays - I have such a hard time following it all now especially with the multi-verse. Plus, a BIG stand-out is Kingsley Ben-Adir. Just such a strong actor and he gives a really spectacular performance among a lot of others that are simply phoning it it or can't act at all - Sam Jackson and Emilia Clarke, respectively. I'm sorry, it's well-established that this woman can't act after Solo, Game of Thrones and whichever Terminator movie she was in, how does she keep booking such big roles? Her agent is fantastic, whoever they are. I do think that its big fault is that it's not very memorable. As I said, as I watched it, I was entertained, but now that I'm trying to write about it - I'm having a hard time even remembering what it's about aside from literally everyone being a skrull. Oh and a character that I've always disliked dies! I hope that actually sticks, but knowing Marvel, they will keep reappearing in everything. Oh and Olivia Colman! She seems like she had a lot of fun with this role.
3. The Idol - I imagined this was pretty bad, but nothing prepared me for how truly awful it is. Definitely one of the worst shows to ever exist for so many reasons. First, and foremost, The Weeknd is one of the worst actors I've ever laid my eyes on. It's actually stunning to me that everyone involved just...went along with it? Nobody at the top said "maybe we made a mistake, let's recast?". I can't really say that Lily-Rose Depp is any better, so obviously the decisions made here are just deeply awful. I know that Sam Levinson and Abel took control over it after Amy Seimetz left, but they were supposed to be involved from the beginning, so it was always going to be terrible. I'll focus more on Levinson in a bit, but as far as Abel goes - he's supposed to be, like, this magnetic force of a character; someone who the audience can see as a slime ball, but we can understand how others have come under his spell. But he is far from magnetic; instead he's just...gross. Actually...repulsive. I saw the viral clip of him mispronouncing "carte blanche" as "cartay blanchay", and I do think that was done on purpose to show that his character is not who he says he is, but he does not sell this dialogue at all and that's why it becomes so funny and cringy. Plus, I've honestly never really had anything against him until this show - I know a few of his songs, I don't personally like them, but I never really cared enough about him to *dislike* him. BUT NOW...I can't stand him. His voice is terrible - so high and screechy. And as far as Depp goes, I think this role was just above her acting abilities. There is a key scene in the beginning that shows her "acting" during a photo session (which is foreshadowing in the most obvious form), but her eyes don't change or move at all. It's like watching a blank fucking slate and pretending it's The Odyssey (incidentally, the scene reminded me of that scene with Zendaya in Malcolm & Marie, in which she shows her "acting" skills, and it's actually painful). She's supposed to be a huge giant pop star and in order to do that one has to have a personality. It may be manufactured, but it still has to exist. There's just nothing here. She's a beautiful girl, and she has a very pretty voice, but is definitely the epitome of a nepo baby. There is no way she would have gotten anywhere without her parents. There is sort of a great supporting cast, but they ruin it by having Hank Azaria do a God-awful inconsistent accent, and Dan Levy is only in the first episode (but solid turns from Rachel Sennott, Da'Vine, and Jane Adams). Second, I was expecting something, like, bold and sexy - something that was going to maybe go a little too far and make me uncomfortable, but it's uhhhhh really tame. I think this is direct proof that tv/movies have become sexless because there is nothing in this that would even make me blush, but it was practically deemed hedonistic by the press and social media. And Depp was treated like a victim in many write-ups about this show, which is the weirdest thing in the world if the people writing those things actually watch the show (which is ultimately about how she's the one in control the whole time...duh). I hate when adult women are treated like they must have been coerced or pressured into doing sex scenes and/or nudity. Because, yes, obviously this does happen, but there are many women who have no problem with it and can make their own decisions about it. So maybe just assume that unless told otherwise? Or do we want to just keep placing victimhood on every woman for everything she does? A lot of women describe being naked onscreen as empowering and freeing, why do people feel like they need to "correct" those feelings? The poor girl states many times that she enjoyed filming the show and had no issues on-set with the things she was asked to do. Let's believe her? ANYWAY, talking about believing women, I think this show is a super weird choice for Miss Lily-Rose, more because of who her father is and what he's been accused of - it certainly parallels the narrative that women are manipulative, a narrative that her father's camp pushed so successfully. And I definitely feel like this is a statement of support for her dad (whether intentional or not, it's weird either way). Third, it's so clear that Sam Levinson wants to be Nicolas Winding Refn so fucking badly. I noticed it with Euphoria, but to be fair, there is some really good stuff in Euphoria. I don't like it as a whole (and I think when people reassess, they will realize that it's not as good as they first thought), but there are certainly parts of it that are very strong. But this? This is pretty much just a direct copy of The Neon Demon (which was co-written by Mary Laws, who is an Executive Producer on this show...coincidence??). Obviously, not nearly as good (I loved The Neon Demon). I started to look into the creation of this show and its inspiration, and apparently people are theorizing that it's about SELENA GOMEZ?! FOR REAL? I was a bit too old when Gomez hit her pop star heights, but I thought she was, like, this innocent Disney pop star? Was she sexualized like this? I'm not sure why that's so shocking for me, but I just never thought of her that way. There's a lot of other bad things I can say about this show (like when the character with the last name Finklestein uses like a dozen Jewish slangs within his first 2 minute introduction, or how Lily-Rose is supposed to be one of the biggest pop stars in the world but doesn't have 24 hour security with her???), but I do have one extremely positive thing to say about this show and that's Suzanna Son! From Red Rocket! I listen to her slowed down version of "Bye, Bye, Bye" ALL THE TIME. Her voice is so angelic and stunning - it literally gives me goosebumps. I'm sad she's in such a shitty show, but there are a lot of powerful people involved and I'm glad that she's getting the exposure that she deserves. Every time she sings in this, I said "now THAT is a STAR!". I love her so much.
4. Jury Duty - I'm so in love with this series that I'm actually considering watching it all again. It's one of the most heartwarming stories I've ever seen. So many things could have gone *so* wrong, and yet it all goes so wonderfully right. First, and foremost, Ronald Gladden is a national treasure. Seriously, give him the Nobel Peace prize for being the kindest man on Earth. If you don't know what the show is about, let me explain - it's a faux docuseries about a group of jurors, but the twist is that 11 of them are actors playing roles and then there is just one non-actor (my dear Ronald Gladden), who thinks he is being filmed for an actual docuseries on jurors. If your first instinct is "that's so mean!", then you'd be correct. It is mean, and I've never liked any of those prank shows because it's all sooo mean-spirited. Which is why this is so fascinating and brilliant that it turns into such a sweet and funny series. No matter what they throw at Ronald, he chooses to be kind in every.single.situation. He doesn't make fun of the weird inventor guy; instead he befriends him and shows interest in his ideas. He doesn't tell on his fellow jurors when they do something that might get them in trouble. He genuinely takes his role as jury foreman seriously and tries to come to a fair verdict. He refuses to take money from a fellow juror after winning a (fake) betting game. And when a famous actor (James Marsden playing a version of himself) throws a tantrum, he forgives him. There is a point in which he says "this feels like reality tv" because they throw so much ridiculousness at him that it can't be real, but also, why would it be fake? And obviously, he is aware that he is ON camera (although he's not aware of all of the hidden cameras), but I just don't know many people who would pass ALL of these tests. I think even my patience would have broken at some point, and I'm pretty nice. The last episode made me cry (like actual tears) when they told him they were giving him 100k. That made it even better because he definitely was not expecting any financial windfall from participating on jury duty. I love the last episode because they explain how they accomplished everything and told stories about how it *almost* went wrong several times (like the bailiff saying the wrong name and then pretending like someone who worked there has that name LOL). The whole cast is extremely talented to be able to improvise so quickly and making it feel real for Ronald. It's definitely a different kind of acting to have to immerse yourself into a character with no real dialogue to work with. But the real winner, aside from Ronald, is Marsden. I've always been a big fan, but this made me love him so much more. He's up for some tough competition for that Emmy, but I wouldn't be mad at him winning. It's definitely a more challenging role. And if all of that doesn't peak your interest, then also let me tell you, it's very, very funny. I was crying with laughter within minutes of the first episode and I definitely could have easily binged all 8 episodes in one sitting but I had to work. There are so many funny moments, but some of my favorites are when Marsden learns he didn't get the role he wanted and he yells into the phone "Oh my God! Which Chris???", and when the one juror gets hurt and everyone has very detailed stories about him - and Ronald is so confused because he barely spoke to anyone, and when the accuser is on the stand and says "I had a hard life; they used to call me Jackpot Jackie because I was so rich" (she was also made fun of for being "tall and thin" LOL), and the whole Margaritaville scene is hilarious ("this is one of my top 20 favorite times at Margaritaville!"). The whole thing is just hilarious. And heartwarming.
5. The Changeling - I watched the first three episodes and I AM IN. I am also stunned by the tough reviews??? Like, HOW?! Are you watching the same show? It has such an interesting structure, and feels so creepy while still feeling real and tangible. And the acting is incredible. LaKeith is KILLING IT! Just a stunning performance so far. *some spoilers for the first 3 eps ahead* I skimmed through a few reviews that touched on the fact that we see this woman's trauma of Post-Partem through a man's eyes, but where were all those reviews for Fleishman is in Trouble??? It definitely feels a bit racist that I was supposed to feel sympathy for an asshole wealthy white guy, but I'm supposed to see this black man with some financial struggles - who adores his wife and actively takes care of his baby - as a villain somehow? Plus, if during a PPD episode, a woman *kills* her baby, I think we're allowed to see how that effects father, and we see his multitude of emotions - from the love for his wife, to the guilt, confusion, and regret he has for how things escalated. Honestly, though...if you gave positive reviews of that shitty show, but are struggling to find the humanity in this show, I'm just going to call you racist (and there are lot. I specifically went and looked at several critics who reviewed both shows.). I know we are only 3 episodes in, so maybe the show dramatically shifts to show him as a villain, and if that happens then I will take it back, but I don't think that's how the show is going to go. Anyway, I'm excited to watch the next episode, and I feel like this series is going to explore so much more with the more mystical atmosphere. I have no idea how the story is going to continue or what it's actually about and I find that really exciting.
Thanks for the detailed and thoughtful posts
ReplyDelete